Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-11-09
bA,s rod. couinped with a doubll

dllDcult, Tor every gust swept the Olu
fiat -bottomod boat out of direct course
But patience and muscle were in comb
nation against the elements, and, al
though it was warm work. the boat was
finally anchored in a locality which had
never failed to furnish sport. although
never before in such an abundance as on
tins bright October day.
1t was inst 1856 when picked up my
rod, selected a prominent minnow, ran
the hook twice through its nose, making
loop which held HIM securely at that
end, then passing the hook under the
dorsal fin, near the centre, il was drawn
clear through and left hanging clear of
the minnow. Past experience had shown
that it was useless to attempt to coax
bass into rising to a fly after smart
frost that is. If sport is wanted. The
smaller bass will rise, but the big fellows
are the ones 10 make man forget whe
Their the bulls or The bears have the
better of the stock market-whether
the wheat pool has been broken, or
the baseball championship won. | had
taken theprecauton to soak up the quito
which the hook was attached while the
boat was in motion. That was ncces-
sary 10 properly secure the minnow, but
the leader had never been IN the water
and was full OF kinks. The boat was
rather unsteady for bass casting, but 10y
the time | was ready 1t had swung
around bow to the wind, and / made
the first cast, of course throwing
with the wind. | only let out about
thirty feet Of the line, regulating the cast
aud the run OF the line, as it was only
for the purpose of soaking up the leader.
When the minnow struck the water /
dropped the end of the rod, and met one
of the greatest surprises ! ever met in
my life. The water fairly boiled. A
bass was after the minnow as soon rs it
struck the water. ] have caught hun
dreds Of them, and profess to some
knowledge OF striking trout, which |
have done with fair measure OF success
on several of the most celebrated lakes
of Northern Maine, but was too much
excited to know Just what to do. The
cOmmOtion in the water had completely
upset me. and i'll the instant of delay
the opportunity to strike was lost.
There was nothing to do but to wait.
If the fish had fairly seized the bait
the fun would soon begin. If not, the
leader would he well soaked up. | had
no fear of the hook going to the bottom
and finding a snag, for there was life
enough in the minnow to prevent that
] viii confess that, III spite of the clear,
crisp air and smart breeze, ] was in a
very lively perspiratiOn. The disturb
ance of the water had satisfied me that
a noble fellow was seeking a closer ac-
Quaintance with me--in fact, had already
done his share-and the result was in
doubt only through my own negligence
| waited minute at least, perhaps
more 1t seemed as though ] waited
long enough for a call OF the entire
stock list. | had presence of mind
enough to adjust the click, for if the fish
had swallowed the bait knew there was
work to be done which would call for the
employment of all the machinery as well
rs all the skill could control. Finally
the suspense was ended. There was a
strong, steady pull on the line. The
bass had taken the bait and was hooked.
Twice he came out of the water, shook
himself vigorously, and fell back. He
could not dislodge the hook. | saw him
each time, and he was so close to the
boat that bad a good look at him, and
estimated his weight at from SIX to seven
pounds.
Then there was a rush The rod
bent, the reel bummed, the line buzzed
through the guides. Firmly held the
rod with my right hand, controlling the
run Of the line by pressing upon II with
my thumb, for / was afraid to rely on
the click alone with the amount OF line
on the spindle. Away he went, never
slackening speed until be was more than
one hundred feet away. Then his pace
slackened Quickly passing the rod
into my left hand, l was ready and the
instant tine bass stopped fighting began.
Gradually | brought him back to within
fifty feet of the boat. Then he
made another rush, this time for
the boat, but | succeeded III steer
ing him around the stern, and
had him again in open water on the
other side He continued the rush with
less vigor however, than before. When
he stopped he came to the surface, and
the sun struck him 50 that | saw that he
was weakening. More rapidly than be-
fore | brought him up to the boat, held
him within twenty feet of it for awhile,
as he tried to gather himself for another
rush, but he was firing rapidly. l was
forcing the fighting now, meeting with
very little resistance. Soon he was
swimming On his side, and few seconds
later / passed the landing net under him
and lifted him into the boat. BE was a
magnificent fellow, and to my sur
prise was only fairly well hooked
through the upper lip. The min
now was gone, shaken off in the
fight Unlocking him and giving him
two telling blows over the head with
short club / had thrown into the boat
before leaving shore-for | always make
it a point to Kill my fish as soon as land
ed unless they are to be returned to the
water-I hooked him on my pocket
scales. Just 81 pounds, the biggest bass
| had ever seen, and of course the biggest
| had ever hooked 1t was happy mo-
ment. and as | wiped the perspiration
from nv brow l looked at my watch.
"Great Caesar" l exclaimed, "has it
stopped. Only 11:O3!" No, twas tick
ing as usual. but was in doubt about its
accuracy until heard the mill whistle
blow for u o'clock. Then | found that
the watch was right, but it will always
seem to me that that contest lasted half
an hour.
1t was but the work of minute or two
TO attach another minnow. Half dozen
casts, the longest not over sixty feet, and
| hooked another bass. 1t seemed to me
il was a twin-brother, for the fight was
very much like the first, with a very lit
tie different experience. The second time
he Jumped out of the water | noticed
there was something wrong with my
tackle, and, to my great surprise, l found
when he was landed that, as a result OF
one of the jumps out of the water, the
hook, which was clear through the upper
Jaw, had caught between the strands
of the double leader, something l
never heard of before, and ask
no one 10 believe. wouldn't be-
lieve it myself if told about it, out,
seeing il myself, was obliged to accept
the evidence that such thing is posi-
HE The second weighed Just quarter